2016 Hyundai Sonata
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 723 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 26 Sonata model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 19 involved a crash and 28 involved a fire. 19 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Exterior lighting, turn signalSep 24, 2021
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Sonata, 2016-2017 Sonata Hybrid, and Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The Smart Junction Box (SJB) software logic may not properly interpret the signals received from the multifunction switch, which could cause the turn signal to activate in the opposite direction of what the driver intended.
A turn signal that activates in the opposite direction of what was intended by the driver increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the SJB software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 19, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 210.
Campaign 21V749000 on NHTSA.gov
Parking brake, indicator lightJun 5, 2017
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Sonata and Genesis vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the warning light to indicate that the parking brake is applied may intermittently not illuminate in the dash due to corrosion in the switch.
If the parking brake indicator is not illuminated when the parking brake is applied, the driver may operate the vehicle with the parking brake partially engaged, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the parking brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 164.
Campaign 17V359000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, sun/moon roof assemblyOct 11, 2016
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 8, 2014, to August 18, 2015, and Hyundai Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to March 18, 2016, equipped with the panoramic sunroof option. Due to a bonding issue with the sunroof wind deflector, the sunroof panel on the affected vehicles may detach while driving.
If the sunroof detaches from the vehicle it could become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will repair the wind deflector anchor plate, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 152.
Campaign 16V726000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bagsAug 24, 2016
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured March 28, 2016 through April 12, 2016. The affected vehicles have a driver-side frontal air bag that may not adequately protect the driver's neck from injury in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
A frontal air bag that does not adequately protect the driver's neck may increase their risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's number for this recall is 148.
Campaign 16V615000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalApr 21, 2016
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 29, 2014 to February 11, 2016, 2017 Elantra vehicles manufactured January 12, 2016 to February 22, 2016, and one 2016 Sonata Hybrid vehicle manufactured October 15, 2015. In these vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag may be missing a chemical enhancer required for the second stage air bag deployment, resulting in the second stage not deploying in certain crashes. The primary stage will deploy as intended.
An air bag that does not inflate increases the risk of injury.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on May 5,2016. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 144.
Campaign 16V232000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, instrument cluster/panelOct 20, 2015
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Sonata vehicles manufactured May 28, 2014, to August 21, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with an Antilock Braking System (ABS) warning light intended to warn the driver if there is an ABS malfunction. In the event of an ABS malfunction, the Brake System warning light will illuminate, but the ABS warning light will not illuminate. Since the vehicles have ABS malfunction lights that do not illuminate, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
If the driver is alerted there is a brake system malfunction, but not specifically with the ABS system, the driver may operate the vehicle unaware that the vehicle's brakes may lock up during hard braking, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the ABS control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 134.
Campaign 15V678000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
88 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Aug 26, 2019
REAR TAIL LIGHTS KEEPS BURNING OUT. THIS SEEMS TO BE CONSISTENT WITH OTHER CONSUMERS AND HYUNDAI HAS NOT DONE A RECALL. SEE FORUMS AND VIDEOS ONLINE FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=9MJXFA1TMTI THEY HAD THIS ISSUE WITH OLDER MODELS AND NOW IT'S HAPPENING WITH NEWER MODELS. CAN WE HAVE A RECALL?
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jul 12, 2019
CAR WAS IN MOTION AT ABOUT 75MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT JERKED REALLY HARD THEN LOST ALL POWER, MAKING IT A VERY UNSAFE SITUATION FOR NOT ONLY MY FAMILY BUT ALSO OTHER DRIVERS. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WENT ALL CRAZY AND IT HASN'T STARTED SINCE THAT HAPPENED, CAR WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY ARE STATING IT'S A RECALL ON THE ECM.
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 5, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WERNER HYUNDAI (LOCATED AT 252 CAPITAL CIR SW, TALLAHASSEE, FL 32304, (850) 575-1000) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Jan 2, 2019
MY ALARM HORN DONT WORK, MY OVERHEAD LIGHT DOES NOT SHUT OFF PROPERLY , DOORS DONT LOCK BACK SHOWS OPNED WHEN CLOSED. WATER IN BACK DOOR LATCH FROZE AND CRACKED MY CASING. THIS ALL HAPPEMED AT THE SAME TIME. DRAINED MY BATTERY AND THEY REPLACED A BOX IN DOOR. NOW BATTERY DIES AGAIN AND IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. A CONSTANT PROBLEM SINCE LAST YEAR. IT IS NOT DEPENDABLE FOR ME DUE TO DISABLED AND SENIOR CITZEN.
Electrical system, Mar 22, 2018
TAKATA RECALL WHEN DRIVING MY VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTING TO LANE CHANGE OR ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AND I PULL MY INDICATOR DOWN TO INDICATE THAT I'M GOING LEFT INSTEAD OF SHOWING LEFT IT INDICATES RIGHT TURN AND
Electrical system, Sep 22, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI SONATA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER (LEGACY HYUNDAI IN MCDONOUGH, GA, 770-914-2800), BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DUPLICATED. LATER, A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED AND THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AND UPDATED THE ECN AND VCN SOFTWARE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,700.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Engine, Aug 24, 2017
HARD SHIFTS WHEN IN SPORT MODE AND WHEN IT DOESN'T DO A HARD SHIFT THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND POWER STEERING TO NOT FICTION CAUSE A POSSIBLE CRASH HAVE TO STOP AND PUT IN PARK TO RESTART ENGINE
Steering, Electrical system, Aug 3, 2017
WITHOUT CLEAR CAUSE THIS RENTAL CAR'S POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS- THE FIRST TIME WE WERE IN A PARKING LOT SO ABLE TO PULL INTO A SAFE PLACE AFTER A TOW COMPANY CHECKED IT OUT AND IT SEEMED TO HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY RESOLVED WE TRIED TO DRIVE IT A SHORT DISTANCE AT SLOW SPEEDS AND THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF AND THE POWER STEERING CUT AGAIN.
Electrical system, Engine, May 20, 2017
WE WERE DRIVING ALONG AT 70 MPH AND SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STALLED AND ELECTRICAL GAUGES ALL TURNED OFF FOR 15 SECONDS, MEANING ALL GAUGES WENT TO THE LEFT LIKE WHEN YOU TURN YOUR CAR OFF. DEALER SAID THAT THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THEY SAID TO LET THEM KNOW IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN????????????? . I TOLD THEM THAT HOW COULD WE LET THEM KNOW IF WE ARE BOTH DEAD.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 25, 2017
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE CAR STARTED SPITTING AND DID NOT WANT TO GO. THEN WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. I CUT THE CAR OF AND WAITED IN TRAFFIC WITH MY BABY IN THE CAR , THEN TURNED THE CAR BACK ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR DROVE LIKE IT HAD NO ENERGY. I WAS ON MY WAY TO MY NEW JOB FOR THE FIRST DAY.
Electrical system, Jul 18, 2016
PASSENGER POWER WINDOW WILL NOT LOCK OUT. ONLY THE BACK WINDOW LOCK. MY DOG HIT THE WINDOW BUTTON AND THE WINDOW OPENED AND THE DOG ALMOST JUMPED OUT ON THE HIGHWAY.
Electrical system, Jul 2, 2016
IF I OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON, A WARNING LIGHT "CHECK BSD SYSTEM" IS DISPLAYED ON THE INFO DISPLAY. THE WARNING STAYS ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. IT SHUTS DOWN THE DRIVER ASSISTANCE FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE. I'VE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO TELL ME WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE WRITE UP PERSON ASKED WAS THE VEHICLE IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW AND IT WAS ONLY DRIVEN BY THE FINANCE MANAGER PRIOR TO ME.
Electrical system, Wheels, Other or unspecified, Mar 23, 2016
TPMS INDICATORS CONTINUE TO SAY THERE IS AN ISSUE AND THE TIRE AND TIRE PRESSURE BUT THE CAR SHOWS THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE AND THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE TIRES.